Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

Christie: Democrats the Real Party of Intolerance

It’s CPAC time again, that magical event every year when grocery stores all over the Washington, DC area run out of red meat because so much of it is being tossed to the rabid attendees at that conference. Chris Christie, desperately trying to pull out of the political tailspin he’s been in because of the bridge scandal, told the audience that the Democrats are the real party of intolerance because of some lies he’s going to tell:

Even if we accept Christie’s definition of “tolerance,” his claim is still false: the 2012 and 2008 Democratic conventions included speakers who opposed abortion rights, while 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin refused to share the stage with pro-choice Republicans.

And this entire claim is absurd. “Sure, we’ve passed more than 200 bills destroying reproductive rights in the last two years, including some that force a woman to have medical instruments unnecessarily shoved inside of them against their will — because we’re in favor of ‘smaller government,’ dontchaknow — but we let one pro-choice person speak at our convention so we’re totally not intolerant of women’s rights!”

Comments

Christie Creamed was an asshole a long, LONG time ago. This is nothing new for him. Attacking people either verbally or (when they’re weaker, less connected or he can have it done by others) in other ways is his default style.

I hope Bruce Springsteen campaigns for whoever runs against that bloviating dickwad; maybe Christie can get the ‘Nuge to work his rallies.

Sure, we’ve passed more than 200 bills destroying reproductive rights in the last two years, including some that force a woman to have medical instruments unnecessarily shoved inside of them against their will…

Some years ago I was at a Cato Institute event in NYC in which Senator Sununu of New Hampshire gave the keynote speech. I mentioned that I was a liberal on social issues like gay rights and abortion rights and where was room in the Republican Party for people like me, and he said largely the same thing as Christie did at CPAC, about how the Democrats were the intolerant ones for not nominating anti abortion candidates.

After that was over, a couple of women in the audience thanked me for asking the question, and I got the impression that they were probably Republican on issues of limited government and taxation like I was at the time, but didn’t like the rightward lurch on social issues.

Later on, when I was in the lobby, Senator Sununu walked past me, reached out to shake my hand and said “That was a good question you asked.”

I hope Bruce Springsteen campaigns for whoever runs against that bloviating dickwad; maybe Christie can get the ‘Nuge to work his rallies.

Ouch. Mentioning Bruce Springsteen and Ted Nugent in the same sentence makes it difficult for me to love my state. Fortunately we Michiganders still have Bob Seger. However the way Kid Rock’s going we’re going to need to get John Mellencamp to immigrate here to balance things back out.

John Sununu was governor of NH when I lived there. I assure you that he was just as big an asshole, then, as he was when you saw him. His son is cut from the same cloth.

dan4:

Let’s have another episode of “Quote mining to salve our hurted fee-fees”.

Let’s see:

“Attacking people either verbally or (when they’re weaker, less connected or he can have it done by others) in other ways is his default style.”

Oh, yes, that is exactly the same thing as what you are trying to make it look like.

See, dannyboy, thing is this; I often disagree with some people on this blog about one issue or another. Sometimes I (and occassionally, the other parties) say something rude but we get over it (most of the time). I–and a majority of the folks who bother to engage you– are wrong on most everything(and usually sanctimoniously self-righteous in your wrongnessosity) and I don’t think I’m actually “attacking” you when I call you a fucking douchebag–because you ARE a fucking douchebag. See how that works, you fucking douchebag?

I can’t grok from your comment whether you think Christie is an asshole since your comment has nothing to do with the OP.

BTW, Christie’s words and actions affect, at a minimum, some fairly large number of NJ (and when he’s doing “outreach” through his cronies at the DoB&T*, whoever is using the roadways in bordering states). Mine generally don’t affect anyone except those that they’re aimed at–and those who are affected certainly may choose to either reply or not read the comment.

In the spirit of reconciliation and blogbonhomie I promise to stop calling you a fucking douchebag–just as soon as you stop BEING a fucking douchebag.